Touch-regulator for pianos



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

o. R. ELIAS. TOUGH REGULATOR FOR PIANOS- No. 405,465. Patentgd June 18. 1889.I

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. R. ELIAS. `TOUCH REGULATOR POR PIANOS. No. 405,465. j)Een'en'ed June 18, 1889..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL ROBERT ELIAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TOUCH-REGULATOR FOR PlANOS.

SIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,465, dated J une 18, 1889.

Application filed December 6, 1888. Serial No. 292,779. (No model.)

To alll whom, t muy concern:

Be it known that I, CARL ROBERT ELIAS, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Touch-Regulator for Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device for conveniently increasing or decreasing at will the resistance of the action, so as to adapt the piano to a heavy or light touch.

The invention consists of a spring secured to each action-lever and of an adjustable sliding bar adapted to engage the free ends of the springs to increase their tension.

The invention also consists in certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, tormin g a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding` parts in all the gures.

Figure l is a sectional end elevation of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is a sectional rear elevation of the same on the line m of Fig. l, and Fig. S is a sectional plan view of part of the improvement on the line y y of Fig. l.

The piano A is provided with the usual action-frame B, supporting the action C, ot any approved construction, and provided with the usual action-levers D, each of which operates its respective hammer, and is pivotally connected bya link E with the keyF, extending to the front of the piano in the usual manner, as illustrated in Fig. l. From each of the action-levers D a spring G extends forward, and the free ends of all the springs G are adapted to be engaged by the cushioned under side of a bar H, connected at its ends, by the curved arms I, pivotally with the actionframe B, so that the bar H can swing up and down, the upward movement being limited by stops H secured to the piano-case, as shown in Fig. 2. Against the under side of each of the arms I presses a spring J, so as to cause the said arms I to hold bar H in an uppermost position out of contact with the springs G, as shown in Fig. l. On top of the bar H is secured a wedge K, cushioned on its top, which is adapted to be engaged bythe curved end L of a lever L, f ulcru med at L2 to a board Q, secured to the front ot the piano-frame. On the upper end of the lever L is secured a knob N, for conveniently turning the lever L. The sidewise-swinging motion of the lever L is limited by stops O and P, secured to the board Q, and the latter is also provided with cushioned strips R, against which the leverL rides, so as to make its movement noiseless. Near the upper end of the cushioned board Q are marked, at the right and left of the said board, the words Easy and Hard, as

plainly shown in Fig. 2, to indicate the resistance of the piano-action, according to the touch desired by the player.

The operation is as follows: lVhen the device is in theposition shown in Fig. l the bar H is in its uppermost position, being held there by the springs J. The lower end L of the lever L is then disengaged from the wedge K and rests near the apex of the same. The upper end of the lever L then stands over the mark Easy, indicating that the piano-action is at its normal resistance. XVhen the bar H is in this position, it is disengaged from the springs G, as is plainly shown in Fig. l, so that there is no extra resistance on the pianoaction. lVhen the operator desires to increase the resistance of the action, in case the player wants a heavier touch, he moves the lever L by the knob N from Easy toward Hardj7 so that the lower rounded end L of the said lever presses on the wedge K, and thereby moves the bar H downward, so that the cushioned bottom of the same is in contact with or near the said springs, so that when the operator touches the key F the lever D is moved upward, and the spring G offers resistance to the upward movement'of the lever D, as it soon comes in contact with the bar H. It is understood that when the latter is in its uppermost position the spring G does not touch the bar H when the keys F are actuated. IVhen the lever L is moved to its extreme right position on Hardj7 then the bar H firmly engages all the free ends of the springs G, thus oitering an equal resistance to the upward motion of the levers D, and consequently to the keys F. Thus it will be seen that by changing the position of the lever L the piano can easily be adapted to the heavy or light touch the performer desires. As the IOO lever li eau be plaeed at any point between Easy and lla'rd, all intermediate degrees of toueh between easy and hard can be obtained.

Having;` thus described my invention, what I elaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-A l. A touch-regulator for pianos, comprising a bar fastened on pivoted arms and held. in an uppermost position by springs, a lever for pressing' the said bar, and springs secured to the action-levers and adapted to be engaged by the said bar, substantially as shown and deseribed.

2. The eo1nbiuatio11,with a piano-action provided with springs, of a bar adapted to engage the said springs and mounted to swing', a spring for holding the said bar in an uppermost position, and a lever for pressing the said bar, substantially as shown and deseribed.

3. The eombin ation, with a piano-action provided with springs, ol a bar adapted io engage the said springs aud mounted to swing, a` spring for holding the said har in an uppermost position, a lever 'for pressing' the said bar, and awedge formed on the top of the said bar and engaged by the said lever, sub stantially as shown and deseribed.

+L. The eombin ation, with ay piano-action provided with springs, of. a bar adapted to engage the said springs and mounted to swing, a spring for holdingI the said bar .in an uppermost position, a lever for pressing the said bar, a wedge formed on the top of the said bar and engaged by the said lever, and stoppins for limiting the movement of the seid lever, substantially as shown and described.

CARL ROBERT ELIAS,

'itnesses:

S. P. BRANNAN, E. D. PAGE. 

